Men think it’s fine to be an older dad, but are unaware their own biological clock is ticking

Most men think it’s acceptable to become a dad in their 50s, but remain clueless that their own biological clock is ticking.

Around 60 per cent of men surveyed thought it was acceptable to become a father when they were aged 50 or over. Picture: Supplied

MOST Australian men can’t hear the sound of their own biological clocks ticking — they believe there are no barriers to becoming a father in their sixth decade.

Although 90 per cent of men say they want at least two children, the majority were unaware that women’s fertility starts to decline in their early 30s and men’s begins to drop off in their mid 40s.

Celebrities becoming fathers in their 60s, such as Rolling Stone’s guitarist Ronnie Wood and singer Rod Stewart, helps perpetuate the myth that men’s fertility is infinite.

“The perception is that it’s all women’s fault that people aren’t having children: selfish women who want to have a career or go travelling, but no one ever mentions men,” Monash University researcher Dr Sara Holton said.

“In fact many women who haven’t had children say it’s because they don’t have a partner or they had a partner who wasn’t willing to commit to parenthood.”

More than 1000 men revealed their aspirations for fatherhood and understanding of the reproductive lifespan in the study published in the International Journal of Men’s Health.

Celebrities becoming fathers in their 60s, such as Rolling Stone’s guitarist Ronnie Wood helps perpetuate the myth that men’s fertility is infinite. Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

“We found that most men had incorrect perceptions about their fertility,” Dr Holton said.

“They over-estimated when fertility started to decline; they thought that for women it was late 30s, early 40s and for men it didn’t decline until much later in life — if at all.”

“But we know that age really does matter for men and their fertility starts to decline in their mid 40s.”

Around 60 per cent of men surveyed thought it was acceptable to become a father when they were aged 50 or over.

“Increasing male age often means a longer time to conception and an increased risk of miscarriage and they are more likely to have children who have mental health problems or autism,” Dr Holton said.

Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) CEO Louise Johnson said it was critical that men were included in the conversation about when to have children.

“We know that both men and women underestimate by around ten years when fertility starts to decline — and that men, as well as women, can miss out on the opportunity to have children because they start trying too late in life,” she said.

The study uncovered a common perception among men that they could always rely on IVF to have a baby, but they were unaware of the success rates, particularly in women over 40.

“IVF does not provide a magic answer for age-related infertility as the chance of having a baby through IVF reduces with age,” Ms Johnson said.

“National data shows that fewer than 6 per cent of women over 40 years who start an IVF cycle will have a baby.”

Dr Horton said there needed to be better fertility education so men and women did not miss out on having children.

The average age of first time mothers in Victoria is 31.5 and for fathers it is 33.6.